Download: The Friday 8-Track

Around the world (of names) in 8-tracks...

Program 1:

1. Portugal.The Man - "Stables & Chairs" - (MP3)

2. Jets To Brazil - "Perfecting Loneliness" - (MP3)

3. Page France - "Junkyard" - (MP3)

4. Vietnam - "Welcome To My Room" - (MP3)

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Program 2:

5. Mt. Egypt - "St. Augustine's Road" - (MP3)

6. Scotland Yard Gospel Choir - "Ellen's Telling Me What I Want To Hear" - (MP3)

7. Oxford Collapse - "The Boys Go Home" - (MP3)

8. Lansing-Dreiden - "Metal On A Gun" - (MP3)

Art & Rock Show Tomorrow (9/29) @ SubT

BENEFIT FOR GREEN EYE PHOTOGRAPHY @ SUBTERRANEAN FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29th

"Patti Farfan, a rock photographer who has worked with national and local bands alike (including Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Redwalls, Cary Brothers, Bottle Of Justus, Marc Broussard, Ambulette, The Changes and PUBLIC FOUR) tragically had her career put on hold when $5300 of her camera equipment was stolen. In order to speed up the recovery process of such a loss Patti will be hosting a benefit Friday, September 29, 10:00pm at Subterranean, $8. The night will feature her photo work, a collection of vivid and moving live music shots as well as conceptual band shots in the downstairs lounge (scheduled to stay up for six weeks) while a wide range of entertainment proceeds upstairs.

Headlining the benefit are pop darlings PUBLIC FOUR , an infectious quintet known for its dreamy vocals, danceable guitar hooks and psychedelic melodies. In between performances there will be dance party DJ Sets by ARCADIAS featuring Darren and Rob of THE CHANGES."

Check it out if you can and Help an artist make her living again!

Status: Interruptus..

I finally upgraded the OS on my Mac. So, I experienced a little downtime while I re-installed all my programs and updating files, etc...(boring computer talk) Getting things back to normal.

Video: Okkervil River - Ends With A Fall

Beautiful. Tortured. Elegant. Okkervil River brings their gorgeous bittersweet folk rock to Chicago, when they play 2 SOLD OUT shows @ Schubas on October 7-8.

Check 'em Out: The Boyfriends

What does it take to become one of Morrissey's new favorite bands? The Boyfriends, a London-based foursome found the formula, taking up the gig of opening for Moz on his European tour. Listening to a few of their tracks, you can tell they were feed a steady diet of The Smiths & Suede, the songs are dark moody epics with soft vocals that will strike familiar tones with Moz and Britpop fans everywhere. Their debut self-titled LP is set to release in the UK on 10/2, you check out some demos on their Myspace.

Download: The Boyfriends - "Speak Less & Listen" - (MP3)
Download: The Boyfriends - "The White Devil" - (MP3)
Download: The Boyfriends - "No Tomorrow" - (MP3)

Download: The Friday 8-Track

Reverend vs. Reverend in 8 tracks featuring the carnival burlesque and snake oil salesman sounds of Reverend Glasseye and the indie electro Manchester pop of Reverend and the Makers .

Program 1:

1. Reverend Glasseye - "17 Lashes" - (MP3)

2. Reverend Glasseye - "Black River Falls" - (MP3)

3.Reverend Glasseye - "Spook The Turk's Nag" - (MP3)

4.Reverend Glasseye - "Magnificent Bitch (live)" - (MP3)

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Program 2:

5. Reverend & The Makers - "He Said He Loved Me" - (MP3)

6. Reverend & The Makers - "Heavyweight Champion" - (MP3)

7. Reverend & The Makers - "Bandits" - (MP3)

8. Reverend & The Makers - "The State of Things" - (MP3)

MP3's for preview purposes, support your musicians.
See a live show and buy their stuff.

Live Review: Jeffrey Lewis Band @ Beat Kitchen 9/20/06

Who the hell is Jeffrey Lewis? I know I asked myself the same question when I heard he was opening for Adam Green. After his set, however, I was sad I never heard of him before (I guess, that's how one becomes a 'best kept secret').

The Jeffrey Lewis Band is actually comprised of two brothers, Jack (bass/keys) and Jeffrey Lewis (guitar/vocals/songwriter), and their friend Dave Beauchamp (drums). Raised by beatniks in New York and a devout comic book fanatic, Jeff plays an eclectic blend of low-fi folk rock with simplistic instrumentation that is transformed by Jeff's fantastical lyrics, which weave tall-tales from fun, to bitter, to just plain weird in such a magical fashion.

The standout song of the night was "Williamsburg Will Oldham Horror," which is this rambling, stream of consciousness rant that tells of Jeff's encounter with Will Oldham on the train where Jeff is seeking the answer to the eternal question 'is it worth being an artist, indie rock star, or are you better off without it?' His lyrics are profound and hilarious and his music reminds me of The Rugburns and Daniel Johnston. Another great track was "Don't Let The Record Label Take You Out To Lunch," which is a refreshingly bitter, witty ditty about how 'you will always pay at the end of the day...because everything has a price, and you don't wanna overspend.' I also couldn't help but enjoy the two "low budget videos" he presented, which were basically Jeff flipping through this large, tattered comic book he created for a couple of songs as he sang the narration. His illustrations were well thought-out though, and complimented each track quite nicely.

His voice may be an aquired taste (slight drone), but it suits his personality and allows his lyrics to shine. He is quite capable of moving from the subtle low-fi folk into more punk rock-fueled tracks without ever missing a beat. I was thoroughly impressed with his set and it was one those that totally came out of nowhere for me. These kinds of experiences are always the best kind of surprise and it makes going out to see live shows worthwhile.

Be on the look out for a new Jeffrey Lewis album on Rough Trade this fall.

Download: Jeffrey Lewis - "Williamsburgh Will Oldham Horror" - (MP3)
Download: Jeffrey Lewis - "Don't Let Record Label Take You Out To Lunch" - (MP3)

Live Review: Annuals @ Subterranean 9/19/06

Annuals are a six piece from North Carolina, though Annuals' brainchild appears to be Adam Baker, the 20 year old singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist recorded much of their album by himself, but the lush compositions would not translate so well live if it were not for the group of fine musicians that surround him. Due to a time crunch, their set was limited to 30 minutes, but this did not deter them from unleashing some hardcore aural pleasure. With only a EP released at the moment, I have only heard a few tracks but I was thoroughly impressed with their live sound. Ace Fu, home of Man Man, has found themselves another winner, as they will be releasing Annuals full length Be He Me this fall.

Their sound is gripping, loaded with emotion, and can be likened to that of Arcade Fire and Broken Social Scene, which was most apparent on their song "Brother", which has a delicate opening, almost a spacey Elliott Smith vocal, then the barrage of grinding guitars and barreling drums power up the instrumentation to a new plateau, as Baker's screams rip through so perfectly. Their live sound was incredibly tight and engaging, and that is all due to the sum of their parts.

Kenny Florence with his oversized curly fro is a freakish dynamo on guitar; bass player Mike Robinson, who barely stood still layered his bass lines and additional vocals so eloquently; Anna Spence behind one of the largest KORGs I've seen on the SubT stage added the softer elements to their powerful sound; the presence of two drumsets was definitely known with Nick Radford and Zack Oden (occasional guitar) pounding away with such intensity that never seemed to clash or feel forced; and Adam Baker who orchestrated the set behind samplers, synths, and misc. percussions completed their sound with his rich, explosive vocals. It is pretty obvious that the Annuals have the skill, energy, and creative juices to make a name for themselves, it helps that they can translate their sound to stage so successfully.

Download: Annuals - "Brother" - (MP3)
Download: Annuals - "Bleary Eyed" - (MP3)
Download: Annuals - "Dry Clothes" - (MP3)

Video: Adam Green - "Novotel"

Quirky, fun, and weird in a good way, Adam Green, one part of the notorious Moldy Peaches, has fashioned himself a solid solo career, becoming as big as Hasselhoff over in Germany and picking up a few famous friends/fans along the way, ie The Strokes, Pete Doherty, and Carl Barat. In fact, there is an entire documentary about a day in the life of Adam Green and Carl Barat viewable on YouTube, which has its moments of hilarity. You can see Adam Green show off his killer dance skills and charming baritone, tomorrow (9/20) at the Beat Kitchen.

Download: Adam Green - "Dance With Me" - (MP3)
Download: Adam Green - "Novotel" - (MP3)

Check 'em Out: O'Death

O'Death, a new york based six piece, revels in the sound of backwoods americana folk, frontporch gospel, and a possessed punk sensibility that in twain creates a twisted listening pleasure. Their recently self-released Head Home is filled with slow ghost town ballads and raging bluegrass with knee-slapping banjo, howling vocals and mule grunts ala Man Man via Waits, frenzied guitar, and ghostly electric fiddle that stumbles its drunken way along a dark and bluesy path. Fans of Will Oldham, Tom Waits, and Man Man will all find something to love in the music that O'Death is creating. Be friend them now.

Download: O'Death - "Busted Old Church" - (MP3)
Download: O'Death - "Nathaniel" - (MP3)
Download: O'Death - "Adelita" - (MP3)
Download: O'Death - "Down To Rest" - (MP3)

Download: The Friday 8-Track

Because everyone loves sucking down oysters and chasing it with thick irish extra stout, while listening to the cooling sounds of regional indie rock, this Friday 8-track is dedicated to the artists playing The Guinness Oyster Fest this Saturday (9/16). Enjoy!


Program 1:
1. Hockey Night - "For Guys' Eyes Only" - (MP3)

2. Hockey Night - "Cooperation" - (MP3)

3. Canasta - "Major Tom (Coming Home)" - (MP3)

4. Canasta - "Slow Down Chicago" - (MP3)

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Program 2:
5. Oh My God - "You're Too Straight To Love Me" - (MP3)

6. Califone - "The Orchids" - (MP3)

7. Califone -"Electric Fence" - (MP3)

8. Bobby Conn - "Never Get Ahead" - (MP3)

MP3's for preview purposes, support your musicians.
See a live show and buy their stuff.

Pulling Teeth...

Yeah, well. I just had my four wisdom teeth extracted. So I'm kinda out for the count. I shall return tomorrow with a Friday 8-track.
Meanwhile... check out these other TEETH...

Baby Teeth - Chicago indie funksters shuffle out their Video for "Heathers By JC", yes! We have an affinity for Roller derby girls and a mild stalker with an extreme taste for freshly waxed hardfloors.

Watch: Baby Teeth - "Heather By JC" - (VIDEO)


The Teeth - These wild rockers from Philly play an infectious blend of bouncy, brit pop and american weird folk, music that easily translates to fans of Dr. Dog or Man Man, ironically fellow Philadelphians(?). Here are some live tracks from a show at The Khyber 5/27/05.

Download: "Mercy, Mercy Pudding Pie" (Live)- (MP3)
Download: "Oh, Bessie" (Live)- (MP3)
Download: "So Long" (Live)- (MP3)

Live Review: Man or...Astro-man? @ Touch & Go 25th 9/9/06

Definitely one of the most prolific bands of the 90's, Man Or Astro-man? released 10 albums in 7 years, toured in various forms and clones, but it hasn't been since 1998 when the original lineup of Star Crunch (Brian Causey) on guitar/occasional vocals, Birdstuff (Brian Teasley) on drums, and Coco the Electronic Monkey Wizard (Robert DelBueno) on alternate-universe bass/electronics and Dr. Delecto (Jeff Goodwin) on bass played together, if you overlook the reunion show in Alabama they did on Sept. 6 as a warm up to the Touch & Go performance.

Apparently, they have been kept in cryogenic storage for the past 8 years, and Corey Rusk thawed them out to "save the world" but it was only the anniversary show they needed to play. They blasted onto the blacklit stage, overflowing with various dayglo spiraling cords, decked out in Man Or Astro-man? flight jackets. The first few songs of the set sounded a bit messy, it seemed they needed a little more time to thaw out. Technical problems plagued their video components among other effects, so I could barely make out the faint projections of the sci-fi and old government film clips from where I was standing, which was a little disappointing. However, after they showered the crowd with hundreds of mini glowsticks, they really picked up the energy and the sound tightened up, and they roared through the better half of their set in true form. Their signature blend of surf guitar ala Link Wray and intergalactic space themes with various electronic effects, sampling, and crazed theramin mixed with their zany stage antics all added up to a thoroughly entertaining set.

Man or Astro-man? really know how to end a show, during the last song Coco wheeled out this tall, homemade Tesla coil, and stalked about the stage like a cartoon mad scientist as he plugged it in, creating a cool spectacle, as Birdstuff disassembled his entire drumset and tossed into the crowd whilst the band continued to play. Definitely a sight to be seen, this giant Tesla coil buzzing its blue lightning zaps as all these drum pieces go surfing above the crowd, and the entire band falling about the stage. It was pure Astro-magic. After which Man or Astro-man?, was placed back in cryogenic storage and some lucky fans walked away with a piece of history, or at least pieces of their drumset. See you in another 25?

Photos courtesy of Kirstiecat.

Check out her other photos from Touch & Go 25th here.

Video: Cat Power - He War

After cancelling her previous Chicago date earlier this year due to "health issues", Cat Power is set to play a show tomorrow night. She has a notorious reputation as a live performer as being erractic and performing in a stream of conciousness manner, yet stopping the flow of her show with her self-doubt stemming from her serious stage fright. It is sad and endearing at the same time, you can witness the beautiful chaos tomorrow night, when Cat Power and The Memphis Rythym Band play The Vic.

Check 'em Out: The Veils

Though the US probably won't see a release of The Veils' second album Nux Vomica until sometime in 2007, the album is nothing short of spectacular. Finn Andrews, son of XTC keyboardist Barry Andrews and mastermind of The Veils, recruited a new collective of musicians for Nux Vomica and has created lively magical sound full of rumbling drums, twinkling piano, and a few banjo solos. Finn's voice has an innate sweet melacholy that reminds one of Jeff Buckley and Richard Ashcroft, with melodies and instrumentation that can be found on your favorite Suede album. Nux Vomica is being released on Rough Trade September 18 in most of Europe, I recommend picking up an import. You can listen to samples from Nux Vomica on their Myspace (be sure to check out "Jesus For The Jugular" and "Advice for Young Mothers To Be").

DOWNLOAD: "The Tide That Left And Never Came Back" - (MP3)
WATCH: "Advice For Young Mothers To Be" - (Video)

Download: The Friday 8-Track

Touch and Go Records 25th Anniversary Block Party Edition.

Program 1:
1. !!! - "Shit Scheisse Merde, pt 1." - (MP3)

2. Ted Leo + Pharmacists - "Where Have All The Rude Boys Gone?" - (MP3)

3. The Ex - "It's A Sin" - (MP3)

4. Calexico - "All Systems Red (acoustic)" - (MP3)

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Program 2:
5. The Black Heart Procession - "Not Just Words" - (MP3)

6. Pinback - "Manchuria" - (MP3)

7. Quasi - "It's Raining" - (MP3)

8. Cocorosie - By Your Side - (MP3)

MP3's for preview purposes, support your musicians.
See a live show and buy their stuff.

Interview: The Panda Band

Coming from Perth, Australia The Panda Band are gearing up to take over the US with their twisted, melodious indie pop rock in the form of a North American release of their long-awaited debut This Vital Chapter on Filter US Recordings (9/12) and potential US tour. During a break in their Australian tour, songwriter/singer/guitarist Damian Crosbie took time to answer some questions.

Where are you currently at? Any favorite moments from the tour?
I'm at home today as the Perth Shows are this weekend. The tour's been amazing so far, so many highlights, but the second night in Sydney was a bit special. Some extra sing-along magic that night.

Any plans for a US tour?
We had to postpone our US tour plans coz the album took longer to finish but we should make it there before the end of the year still. I do hope and pray.

How would you describe your music, it's feel and sound? Are you influenced by anyone in particular?
Our music is quite filmic, as I tend to gain alot of inspiration from musicals and documentaries. Some songs are quite dream like but still retain a spooky intensity which is amplified live. We all have such varied influences that it would be misleading to choose one and probably more informative to people to name bands we remind listeners of. The usual names dropped are Pink Floyd, The Kinks The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Super Fury Animals, Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev, etc. Have you heard of them? Ha! You get the idea.

But most agree we're no retro band, we don't look like Oasis or anything, we look and sound like The Panda Band. We all come from Perth, which is a very isolated, spread out, young and un-spoilt city on the west coast of Australia. It's the only City on the west coast of Australia! It's kind of like San Diego, and people say we sound like our location.

How did approach the songwriting process on your debut album This Vital Chapter? Which sounds amazing by the way.
I take alot of different approaches to creating songs, and this helps keep it exciting for me and help the songs have their own identities. Some come from a lyric idea ("We've Got The Face Of The Earth"), some a melody (like "Spanish Bride"), some from messing around with some random sounds on my computer("A Call To Your Arms"). It's never the same.

Who are you listening to right now?
I've been listening to Harry Nilsson As Time Goes By (...the complete Schmilsson in the night). It's wonderful. Another of my favorites is a fellow Perthian Jeff Strong, he's like a cross between Prince and Bob Dylan, mesmerising.

What's next on the agenda for The Panda Band?
Some shows here in Perth this weekend then off around Australia again with the Sleepy Jackson on their album tour, it's gonna be alot of fun.

Is there anything you would like to say to the people of Chicago?
You have a beautiful city, I visited a couple of years back to check out Oak Park and the Frank Lloyd Wright gear...I can't wait to play some shows there.

Thanks for your time, Damian!

The Panda Band's debut This Vital Chapter hits the shelves September 12, in the meantime you can hear samples on their Myspace.

Live Review: Gosling @ Schubas 9/1/06

And the award for best reincarnation of a band goes to...Gosling (the band f/k/a Loudermilk). After Loudermilk's last release in 2002, the band went into hibernation, ditched the Motley Crüe tones and mod haircuts, picked up some keyboarding skills, developed a new sound and rebirth themselves as Gosling. The band members are the same: singer/guitarist Davey Ingersoll, guitarist/keys Mark Watrous, bassist Shane Middleton, and drummer Isaac Carpenter, but the music they are creating as Gosling is a refreshing departure, full of volatile, indie punk rock with a blend of brit pop grandeur.

Gosling's sound is incredibly tight live and you can't help but feel the energy emanating from the stage. Carpenter is master behind the drums, pounding a barrage of beats that fuel their new, infectious sound. Middleton provides some slick bass lines adding to the fullness with great effect. Watrous deserves a medal for his double duty on guitar and keyboards, switching smoothly and effortless between the two keeping the flow going, especially on the piano heavy song "The Burnout" which has considerable vamps that truly define the song. Ingersoll is one of few singers who can actually pull off screaming vocals without sounding annoying, in part to his ability to scream in scales which was evident on the David Bowie cover "Cat People (Putting Out The Fire)" (recorded for the Underworld:Evolution S/T), where his high-powered outbursts kept climbing past expectations. I would liken his voice to that of Ian Svenonius with doses of a Billy Corgan and Iggy Pop. Besides the aforementioned tracks, another highlight was "Mr. Skeleton Wings", a juicy track full of sex, fame, & death with driving guitar, effervescent vocals, and thumping piano.

The entire set was an exciting display of their lyrical charm and technical skill. They put on a spectacular show, armed with the expressive, jangly goodness of their recently released album Here Is..., outshining the headliner with their energy and collective talent. There is no doubt Gosling will be headlining their next jaunt through Chicago.

Setlist:

Here Is...
Mr. Skeleton Wings
Worm Waltz
I Am The Avocado
Waiting For The Sun
The Burnout
Cat People (Putting Out The Fire)
Sinking Ship
One Hand Two Hand

Video: Golem - Warsaw is Khelm

GOLEM = Eastern Euro-Punk-Folk Klezmer Rock!
RIYL: DeVotchKa, Beirut, Gogol Bordello.

Golem, the NY-based Klezmer-rock band, brings their modern, sexy take on traditional Yiddish folk to the Empty Bottle on September 7th. Check out samples from their new album Fresh Off Boat on their Myspace.

Check 'Em Out: Aidan Smith

I was tuned into this singer/songwriter from Manchester, only recently after hearing his latest album Fancy Barrel, which is a great collection of charming indie pop piano and acoustic guitar ballads, that invoke melodies fumbling down Abbey Road walking hand in hand with a Badly Drawn Boy. Aidan's music is playful, intelligent, and displays Aidan's witty sense of humor.

You can preview clips of Fancy Barrel on his webpage.
You can also hear full length samples on his Myspace.

And in the spirit of free music, you can download a free 14-track collection of unreleased home recordings from 2002/2003 compliments of Aidan Smith.
Download all 14 tracks (Single zip file - 36MB)

Download: The Friday 8-Track

Beautiful tragedies and alluring cacophonies.

Program 1:
1. Beirut - "Postcards From Italy" - (MP3)

2. Beirut - "Mount Wroclai (Idle Days)" - (MP3)

3. De Novo Dahl - "Shout" - (MP3)

4. De Novo Dahl - "Subject of The Kill" - (MP3)

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Program 2:
5. Envelopes - "Audrey In The Country" (MP3)

6. Envelopes - "It's The Law" (MP3)

7. The Never - "The Sharpest Place" - (MP3)

8. The Never - "Cavity" - (MP3)

MP3's for preview purposes, support your musicians.
See a live show and buy their stuff.